THE HOLIDAYS= DANGER DANGER DANGER

Whatever the religion, over the holidays volcanoes might happen so if you see an eruption do as follows:

• Learn what kind of eruption is likely. You will need different strategies to deal with different kind of eruptions.
• Stock up on necessities. Store at least a three-day supply of food and potable water at your home. In the event of an eruption, water supplies may become contaminated, so you can’t count on your well or public water. Keep a first aid kit, blankets, and warm clothing handy, and have a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries on hand so that you will be able to listen to advisories if the power goes out. Keep necessary medications together. Ideally, you should keep all these things in one place—a large container that you can carry, for example—so that you can quickly bring them with you if you need to evacuate.



The eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. This plinian eruption devastated a huge area and killed 57 people.

• Make a plan and know escape routes. If you live near a well-researched and well-monitored volcano, you can probably obtain a hazard-zone map from your local emergency management agency or, in the U.S., from the U.S. Geological Survey. These maps show the probable paths of lava flows and lahars (debris flows) and give estimates for the minimum time it would take a flow to reach a given location. They also divide the area around the volcano into zones, from high-risk to low-risk. Your local emergency agency may also have evacuation routes mapped out. Using this information you can get some idea of how safe your house or workplace is, and you can plan the best route of escape. Because volcanic eruptions are complex and, to some extent, unpredictable, you should have several alternative routes to reach one or more “safe zones.”
• If you will be visiting a volcano, knowledge is your most important protection. Before going to the volcano, consult with local authorities, and heed their recommendations or warnings. Learn about the hazards you may encounter in the area of the volcano, and get a reputable guide to accompany you, if possible. Bring plenty of water in case you become unexpectedly trapped by a lava flow, and don’t overexert yourself. You’ll be able to react more quickly—and run for your life, if necessary—if you’re not fatigued.
  
  Leave the area promptly if told to do so. You may be ordered to evacuate wherever you happen to be or, in some cases, evacuation may simply be recommended. Either way, get out. In recent eruptions, many people have been killed because they did not heed an evacuation order. If you are lucky enough to get advance warning, use it wisely. Conversely, if you are not instructed to evacuate the area, stay where you are unless you can see immediate danger. Taking to the roads may be more hazardous than staying at home.
  Get to high ground. Lava flows, lahars, mudflows, and flooding are common in a major eruption. All of these can be deadly, and all of them tend to travel in valleys and low-lying areas. Climb to higher ground, and stay there until you can confirm that the danger has passed.
  Avoid breathing poisonous gases. Volcanoes emit a number of deadly gases, and if you are close to one when it erupts, these gases could kill you in less than a minute. Breathe through a respirator, mask, or moist piece of cloth—this will also protect your lungs from clouds of ash—and try to get away from the volcano as quickly as possible. Do not stay low to the ground, as some of the most dangerous gases are heavier than air and accumulate near the ground.